Environmental Science 102 Exam Bank

When solar radiation passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, the ozone in the atmosphere effectively absorbs this portion of the solar radiation.

Ultraviolet radiation

Visible radiation

Infrared radiation

This greenhouse gas is produced through the anaerobic breakdown of organic matter.

water vapor

carbon dioxide

methane

chloroflourocarbons

nitrous oxides

This greenhouse gas contributes to both global warming and depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.

water vapor

carbon dioxide

methane

chloroflourocarbons

nitrous oxides

The human activities that contribute most to global warming are:

deforestation and industrial process

industrial processes and agriculture

burning fossil fuels and deforestation

agriculture and burning fossil fuels

This is the only greenhouse gas that humans really have no control over because it is naturally occurring.

water vapor

carbon dioxide

methane

chloroflourocarbons

nitrous oxides

The gas that has the greatest relative contribution to global warming is carbon dioxide. It is the greatest relative contributor because:

it is the strongest, most efficient greenhouse gas

it is more abundant than any other greenhouse gas

it has been around longer than all the other greenhouse gases

The use of this greenhouse gas is currently being phased out, particularly in the U.S.

water vapor

carbon dioxide

methane

chloroflourocarbons

nitrous oxides

The gases that make up Earth’s atmosphere:

reflect away most of the solar energy that reaches the Earth’s atmosphere

are, to a great extent, transparent to much of the solar energy that reaches the Earth’s atmosphere

absorb and hold most of the solar energy that reaches the Earth’s atmosphere

These two countries, currently ranked 9 and 10 on the list of largest per capita emitters of carbon dioxide, could add a tremendous amount of additional carbon dioxide to the atmosphere if their plans to further industrialize are fulfilled.

Ukraine and China

India and Ukraine

Japan and China

China and India

Solar radiation is made up of gamma radiation, x-ray radiation, ultraviolet radiation, visible radiation, infrared radiation, microwaves, and radiowaves. However, the vast majority of the Sun’s radiation that reaches the Earth’s surface is in the form of:

ultraviolet and visible radiation

visible and infrared radiation

infrared and microwave radiation

ultraviolet and infrared

This greenhouse gas is exclusively man-made. It did not exist in pre-industrial times.

carbon dioxide

nitrous oxides

methane

chlorofluorocarbons

This greenhouse has is primarily the result of the burning of fossil fuels.

carbon dioxide

nitrous oxides

methane

cholorflourocarbons

When any form of radiation is absorbed by an object, the following will occur:

humans will be able to see the object

the object’s temperature will increase

the object will become sunburned

nothing will happen

Based on atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations observed at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, the following can be stated with certainty:

the annual trend in carbon dioxide concentrations has been increasing

over the course of the year, there is a carbon dioxide minimum in the northern hemisphere summer

over the course of the year, there is a carbon dioxide maximum in the northern hemisphere winter

all of the above can be stated with certainty

Over the last few years the relative contribution of chlorofluorocarbons to global warming is thought to have:

increased

decreased

remained the same

Many people don’t believe this, but the strongest greenhouse gas is:

carbon dioxide

water vapor

chlorofluorocarbons

methane

nitrous oxides

_____ This gas is produced when commercial fertilizers breakdown in the soil

water vapor

methane

chlorofluorocarbons

carbon dioxide

nitrous oxides

_____ This gas is 25 times more efficient than carbon dioxide, that is, it traps 25 times more heat energy per molecule than carbon dioxide

water vapor

methane

chlorofluorocarbons

carbon dioxide

nitrous oxides

_____ The concentration of this gas was about 280 ppm at the start of the industrial revolution but is now at about 370 ppm.

water vapor

methane

chlorofluorocarbons

carbon dioxide

nitrous oxides

_____ The major sources of this gas include refrigerants, industrial solvents, and plastic foams.

water vapor

methane

chlorofluorocarbons

carbon dioxide

nitrous oxides

_____ This gas can make up nearly 0% or as much as 2%-3% of the atmosphere.

water vapor

methane

chlorofluorocarbons

carbon dioxide

nitrous oxides

_____ This gas is concentrated near the Earth’s surface.

water vapor

methane

chlorofluorocarbons

carbon dioxide

nitrous oxides

The number of different kinds of organisms within an individual community or ecosystem is known as:

genetic diversity

ecological diversity

species diversity

The total number of living species is estimated to be:

between 500,000 and 1 million

between 3 million and 50 million

between 50 million and 100 million

over 100 million

Approximately how many species have been identified on Earth?

about 500,000

a little less than 1 million

a little less than 1.5 million

about 3 million

about 30 million

Most of the species that have already been discovered fall into:

algae and fungi

fish/sharks and arthropods

insects and arthropods

multicellular plants and insects

arthropods and multicellular plants

Most of the species that are yet undiscovered are probably:

insects

multicellular plants

mammals and reptiles

birds and fish

Species diversity is most concentrated in:

North America, South America, and Africa

North America and Europe

South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia

South Africa, Australia, and Europe

Oceania, East Asia, and Antarctica

Which of the following is not a benefit of biodiversity for humans?

aesthetics

ecological services

food

drugs and medicines

all of these are benefits of biodiversity

Soil formation and nutrient recycling are examples of what type of benefit attributed to biodiversity.

aesthetic benefits

geological cycles

availability of food

ecological benefits

drug and medicine beneft

Habitat fragmentation usually leads to a(n):

decrease in biodiversity

reduction in the number of introduced species.

increase in biodiversity due to the isolated populations.

increase in the number of introduced species.

more stable environment.

In general, an animal whose population is widely scattered geographically is as/than one whose population is geographically restricted.

more likely to become extinct

less likely to become extinct

equally likely to become extinct

Ecotourism is an example of what type of benefit attributed to biodiversity.

aesthetic benefits

geological cycles

availability of food

ecological benefits

drug and medicine beneft

Inbreeding within a species tends to reduce:

genetic diversity

ecological diversity

species diversity

Based on the computer models that have been developed, which region of the earth do scientists believe will show the most pronounced warming?

poles

midlatitudes

subtropics

tropics

The best estimate of the magnitude of global warming, assuming a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide, is:

1°C

2°C

3°C

4°C

6°C

Increased carbon dioxide may actually benefit agriculture because of the increased productivity of C3 plants. Which of the following is not an example of a C3 plant?

corn

rice

wheat

barley

Increased concentrations of carbon dioxide will help increase photosynthesis levels in plants assuming:

the correct hybrid/variety is planted

the crop is well fertilized

insect pests are kept in check

the crop has enough water

What greenhouse gas, trapped under permafrost, will be released if the permafrost ever thaws?

carbon dioxide

methane

nitrous oxides

chlorofluorocarbons

ozone

If global warming occurs, the Great Plains might find:

increased land values as the Corn Belt shifts westward

increased land values due to the agricultural infrastructure (e.g., irrigation systems) already in place for the different crops that would be grown there

decreased land values due to less productive crops

decreased land values when wheat takes over land currently in native grasses

Global warming means just that, global warming. Climate changes will vary depending on the specific region. Assuming global warming does occur, it is likely that in the Midwest and Great Plains of the U.S., temperature will _________ , while evaporation will ___________ .

increase, increase

increase, decrease

decrease, increase

decrease, decrease

Again, assuming global warming does occur, wintertime precipitation is expected to _________ and summertime precipitation is expected to ____________ in the Great Plains and Midwest of the U.S.

Renewable energy makes up about 18% of total world energy use. Biomass comprises of that supply.

5%

10%

25%

50%

75%

Active solar energy systems involve:

large volumes of massive heat absorbers

pumps and moving fluids

photovoltaic cells

stationary materials to gather and hold heat

Manure or dung makes a good fuel except that it is:

scarce

not clean

needed to rebuild the soil

difficult to burn

Solar energy potential is greatest in which of the following areas?

Gulf Coast states

New England states

Desert Southwest states

Pacific Northwest states

Texas Panhandle area

Burning methane from dung:

is more efficient than burning the dung directly

provides more heat than burning the dung directly

allows the dung to also be used as a fertilizer

all of the above

Since the 1920s, hydropower production has:

risen, but not as fast as fossil fuel use

fallen due to disinterest

fallen due to a lack of available sites

stayed about the same

One potential policy that would encourage conservation and the use of alternative energy resources would require all utility customers to pay a small kWh charge to fund research development. This is known as:

Resources portfolio

Distribution fee

Green pricing

The total world production of hydropower is currently equal to percent of the total world potential.

100

70

50

25

10

The largest current users (per capita) of electricity generated from hydropower are:

Canada, Norway, Brazil, Switzerland

Norway, Brazil, Switzerland, New Zealand

Canada, Brazil, Switzerland, New Zealand

Switzerland, New Zealand, Canada, Norway

New Zealand, Canada, Norway, Brazil

The world’s largest producer of electricity generated from hydropower is:

Canada

United States

Norway

New Zealand

The largest dam in the world, which is currently under construction, is found on the:

Parana River between Brazil and Paraguay

Nile River in Egypt

Yangtze River in China

Po River in China

Mississippi River in the U.S.

In the U.S., windmills played a critical role in the settlement of:

Appalachia

central California

the Great Plains

the Rocky Mountains

the Northeast

The world’s largest wind power producers are:

the U.S. and Denmark

Brazil and Japan

Japan and France

Denmark and Australia

A major force leading Americans to begin thinking about energy conservation was the:

industrial revolution

1973 Arab oil embargo

near depletion of domestic coal supplies

invention of nuclear energy

1991 Gulf War

Wind speeds at site “A” are, on average, twice as fast as at site “B.” As a result, site “A” will generate:

the same amount of electricity as site “B”

twice the amount of electricity as site “B”

four times the amount of electricity as site “B”

eight times the amount of electricity as site “B”

A system of pipes painted black that have water circulating on the wall in a glass greenhouse on the south side of a building is an example of:

parabolic collection

an active solar heating system

passive heat absorption

eutectic heat exchange

The largest source of energy loss from a home is usually a result of energy escaping from:

poorly insulated walls and attics

poorly caulked cracks and loose joints

single paned windows

windows that lack curtains/window coverings

The best locations for wind energy farms are those in which wind speeds are average ______ or more.

10 mph

15 mph

20 mph

25 mph

One potential policy that would encourage conservation and the use of alternative energy resources would have consumers voluntarily pay an additional fee to finance renewable energy. This is known as:

Resources portfolio

Distribution fee

Green pricing

In 1850, wood supplied about 90% of the U.S. fuel energy. Currently, wood supplies about this much of the U.S. fuel energy:

95%

75%

50%

25%

10%
F) <1%

Fossil fuels currently supply about percent of all world commercial energy supplies.

95

85

75

50

25

Which of the following energy sources does not contribute to the greenhouse effect?

coal

petroleum

nuclear power

wood

natural gas

The U.S. and Canada make up 5% of the world’s population, but consume about of the world’s available energy.

nine-tenths

two-thirds

one-half

one-quarter

Under normal operating conditions, power plants release radioactivity as well as toxic metals.

coal-fired

hydroelectric

nuclear

wind-generated

In the U.S., the largest percentage of energy is used in:

industry

residential and commercial buildings

transportation

Which of the following statements is true?

world coal reserves are substantially smaller than petroleum reserves

the fossil fuel most readily available and abundant in the U.S. and Canada is petroleum

the U.S. has only enough proven oil supplies to last ten years at current rates of consumption

world coal reserves are only large enough to provide power for about 100 years

Which of the following is not a major gas leased when coal is burned?

sulfur dioxide

methane

carbon monoxide

carbon dioxide

nitrogen oxides

Most useful oil deposits are usually found:

in a liquid pool under a layer of impermeable shale

saturating porous rocks, like water in a sponge

locked in the mineral structure of a rock formation

in pools on the earth’s surface, where geologic pressures have forced them to collect

in small pools directly above the bedrock

Which of the following locations does not hold great potential for new oil discoveries?

Grand Banks in the North Atlantic Ocean

Beaufort Sea off the northern coast of Alaska

Gulf of Alaska off the southern coast of Alaska

California coast

Natural gas is the source of commercial energy worldwide.

largest single

second largest

third largest

fourth largest

fifth largest

The chemical industry is the second largest industrial consumer of fossil fuels with _______ used for energy generation and ________ used for raw materials in manufacturing.

half … half

three quarters … one quarter

one quarter … three quarters

one third … two thirds

two thirds … one third

Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland have higher standards of living (based on GNP) than Americans or Canadians:

because their energy consumption is much greater

even though their energy use is about equal to ours

even though their energy use is much less than ours

none of these, Sweden, Denmark, and Switzerland do not have a higher standard of living compared to Americans and Canadians

Which of the following is not considered a fossil fuel?

coal

natural gas

oil

charcoal

all of these are considered to be fossil fuels

This area has the most proven reserves of natural gas:

Middle East

Former USSR

North and Central America

Europe

For much of the past decade, and even still today, there has been great debate over oil and natural gas drilling in:

the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

the Everglades National Wildlife Refuge

the Buffalo Commons Wildlife Refuge

Yellowstone National Park

All of these

Developing countries typically depend on biomass for their energy needs. This potentially has serious economic consequences to their:

agricultural land

soils and forests

biodiversity

Fossilized plant material, buried and compacted over time into carbon-rich fuel defines:

coal

oil

natural gas

Black lung disease results from:

inhaling radioactive material released when coal is burned at power plants

inhaling the pollution released by coal when it is burned at power plants

inhaling coal dust when extracting coal from underground mines

Worldwide, at current consumption rates, which nonrenewable energy source is expected to be depleted first?

coal

oil

natural gas

Over the past 150 years, the primary form of energy consumed in the U.S. has changed from:

coal to oil to wood

oil to wood to coal

coal to wood to oil

wood to oil to coal

wood to coal to oil
F) oil to coal to wood

Until the late-1940s the U.S. was the:

largest exporter of oil

second largest exporter of oil

second largest importer of oil

largest importer of oil

The most rapidly growing nonrenewable energy source is:

coal

oil

natural gas

Three of the following areas each contain about one-quarter of the world’s proven reserve of coal. Which one does not?

Europe

Asia

North and Central America

Former USSR

Major U.S. suppliers of oil in the 1970s included:

Saudi Arabia and Iran

Mexico and Iraq

Venezuela and Mexico

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates and Kuwait

Renewable energy resources make up about 4-5% of the commercial energy supply worldwide. Which of the following makes up the bulk of that 4-5%?

solar

hydroelectric

wind

geothermal

Resources that exist in fixed amounts in the environment and, on a human timescale, when used up are exhausted are considered to be:

Potentially renewable resources

Intangible resources

Nonrenewable resources

Renewable resources

If recovery of a resource is not economical now, but it is likely in the future, it is considered to be:

undiscovered resource

known resource

proven reserve

unrecoverable resource

Which is not true regarding a “Common” area:

the typical human thinking is, “If I don’t use it, someone else will”

it is land that is available to all users with no charge incurred

it involves a communal resource management system

it is usually degraded or destroyed by an individuals self-interest

Resources that are valuable for their aesthetic value are known as:

Potentially renewable resources

Intangible resources

Nonrenewable resources

Renewable resources

Unconceived resources

A resource exists. We know it exists. But we haven’t a clue where to even begin looking for it. This is considered a(n):

unrecoverable resource

Intangible resource

Recoverable resource

Renewable resource

Unconceived resource

Availability of this resource can be extended by more efficient use, recycling, or substitution:

Potentially renewable resources

Intangible resources

Nonrenewable resources

Renewable resources

Match the following categories of resources to the examples below:

Renewable resource

Nonrenewable resource

Intangible resource

Potentially renewable resource

_____ groundwater

_____ wind

_____ fertile soil

_____ vegetation

_____ minerals

_____ national park

Tourism has the potentially be a great economic resource because tourism is a(n):

Potentially renewable resources

Intangible resources

Nonrenewable resources

Renewable resources

The availability of this type of resource often depends on our stewardship of the resource.

Potentially renewable resources

Intangible resources

Nonrenewable resources

Renewable resources

Which of the following is not a likely solution to a “Common” area situation?

privatizing the area

establishing an open access system

developing a communal resource management system

let the government regulate the area

Which of the following is an effective response to resource scarcity?

substituting different materials for scarce ones

increasing efficiency

recycling

human ingenuity

all of the above

Resources that are accessible with current technology, but are not necessarily economical that this time are known as:

undiscovered resource

known resource

proven reserve

recoverable resource
Use the following diagram to answer the next 3 questions.

All of the countries listed below are considered to be “water-poor” countries. Which country does not fit the mold of the typical “water-poor” country?

Jordan

Israel

Kuwait

Singapore

Egypt

The reason the country identified in the question above does not fit the mold of a typical “water-poor” country is:

it has higher evaporation rates than the other countries listed

it has a drier climate than the other countries listed

it has a high population density than the other countries listed

it has lower precipitation rates than the other countries listed

Many “water-poor” countries are located:

between approximately 20°-30° latitude

near the equator

between approximately 40°-50° latitude

near the poles

The biggest reason Canada is considered a “water-rich” country is:

it has especially high precipitation rates

it has a huge land area

it has an especially moist climate

it has a high population density

Human water withdrawals have been increasing at about rate as worldwide population growth.

the same

half the

twice the

one-third the

three times the

Comparing water use of developed to developing countries:

more water is used for agriculture in developed countries

more water is used for domestic purposes in developing countries

more water is used for industry in developed countries

Regarding the Ogallala Aquifer:

its water is replaced on an annual basis through precipitation.

its water originally came from ocean water seepage.

it is a nonrenewable resource.

none of the above.
Use the figure below to answer the next question.

On the graph of domestic water use per person shown above, each letter represents a country. Which of the following is most likely?

B is the U.S., A is China

A is the U.S., B is China

A is the U.S., B is Canada

A is India, B is China

B is India, A is China

The Ogallala Aquifer supplies water to and once held more water than the surface water .

California’s Central Valley, in the world

the Rocky Mountain states, in the U.S.

the central Plains states, in the world

Arizona and Las Vegas, in the U.S.

A method of increasing water supplies that has proven to be successful, but expensive, is:

desalinization by reverse osmosis.

cloud seeding.

towing icebergs by ship from polar regions.

none of these methods are successful.

Some countries use just about all their water for irrigation (for example, India at 93%). Other countries use very little of its water for irrigation (for example, Kuwait at 4%). Worldwide, approximately percent of total water withdrawn is used for agriculture?

30%

50%

70%

90%

Many developing countries “mine” water. This is because:

these countries must drill wells to reach a water source.

these countries must locate underground water because there is no surface water available.

these countries extract water faster than it is replenished.

none of the above.

Germany is a leader in using water for industrial purposes. After being used for industrial purposes most water is:

put in a storage reservoir to allow sedimentation to take place

detoxified of chemical pollutants before being released into streams and rivers

just released into streams and rivers where it could cause thermal pollution

distilled then released into streams and rivers

Agricultural water use in developing countries is considered inefficient because:

60-70% of the water never reaches the crop.

these countries typically use flood irrigation, so much of it evaporates before the crop uses it.

these countries typically use flood irrigation, so much of it infiltrates below the crop root zone.

irrigation water is transported through canals, where much of it is lost to evaporation and seepage.

all of the above.

In some developing countries:

the quantity of water is not a problem, it is just unevenly distributed.

the quantity of water is not a problem, but the quality of the water makes it unfit for consumption.

quantity is a problem

both A and B

Water use in developing countries is dominated by:

agricultural use.

domestic use.

industrial activities.

use as drinking water.

Many “water-rich” countries are located near the equator, thus their reason for being “water-rich” is due to:

high precipitation rates

typically large land areas

low population densities

Lawsuits are a potential problem if which of the following methods of increasing freshwater supplies is adopted?

cloud seeding

iceberg towing

desalinization

The greatest problem with the desalinization process used during reverse osmosis is that:

salts pass too easily through the membrane.

the thin membrane easily rips.

only salt water with mineral concentrations below 10 ppm can effectively be desalinized.

what to do with the highly concentrated saltwater that is left over.

Although population growth rates in developing countries is increasing, water demand is:

stabilizing

also increasing

decreasing

Withdrawal is the total amount of water:

lost in transmission due to evaporation and leakage

taken from rivers, lakes, and aquifers

used in manufacturing or agriculture

altered or polluted in human activities

In some regions groundwater withdrawals can contribute to sinkholes, in which:

Desalinization of water through reverse osmosis is the principal source of water for which countries?

tropical countries with long coastlines

countries located in the interiors of continents

oil-rich Middle Eastern countries

countries in colder, more poleward locations

Withdrawal of groundwater often causes subsidence, a situation where:

aquifer volume decreases sharply

withdrawals exceed recharge rates

water quality and water tables fall

porous rocks settle and ground level falls

wells dry up

A broad-spectrum biocide is designed to kill:

a wide range of plants

microbes that are neither plant nor animal

all living organisms

insect species

The population growth curve of a pest organism would probably be _______________ because they are species in ecological succession.

Exponential … pioneer

Arithmetic … pioneer

Stable … pioneer

Stable … climax

Exponential … climax

Globally, the rates of pesticide use are in the wealthiest, more developed countries and the rates of pesticide use in developing countries are .

Lowest … increasing

Lowest … stabilizing

Highest … increasing

Highest … decreasing

Worldwide, most pesticides are used for:

agriculture.

personal protection against disease carrying insects.

ridding tourist areas of pests.

ridding domestic homes of pests.

Which of the following categories of agricultural pesticide use is highest in the U.S.?

biocides

fungicides

insecticides

herbicides

rodenticides

Which of the following are inorganic pesticides?

rotenone and nicotine

arsenic, copper, and mercury

carbon tetrachloride and ethylene dibromide

DDT and mothballs

a complex of chemicals from the Chrysanthemum

Inorganic pesticides are generally:

highly toxic and remain in the soil for a long time.

highly toxic and break down soon in the environment.

moderately toxic and remain in the soil for a long time.

moderately toxic and break down soon in the environment.

toxic to insects, but safe to humans.

Organophosphates operate by attacking an organism’s system.

muscular

blood

immune

nervous

skeletal

Chlorinated hydrocarbons have ______ toxicity for humans and remain in the soil for a ______________ time.

High … long

High … short

Low … short

Low … long

Organophosphates and are similar in that they lack environmental persistence and have low bioaccumulation.

chlorinated hydrocarbons

carbamates

inorganic pesticides

natural organic pesticides

Approximately what percentage of pesticide used never reaches the intended target?

20

75

50

90

In terms of agriculture, pesticides have lead to _____________ for consumers.

lower monetary costs

more attractive produce

better quality produce

more availability of produce

all of the above

The pesticide treadmill occurs when:

a virus transfers pesticide resistance to a new species.

constantly decreasing doses of pesticides are needed to control pests.

nontarget agricultural species are destroyed by insecticides

constantly increasing doses of pesticides are needed to control pests.

How can an organism be resistant to a chemical that it has never been exposed to?

genes for pesticide resistance can be transferred through vectors such as viruses.
B. pesticide resistance does not require chemical exposure and eventually all organisms become resistant.
C. There is probably some exposure that we are not aware of.
D. It is not possible for an organism to develop a resistance to a chemical it has never been exposed to.

Behavioral changes as an alternative to current pesticide use would not include:

switching from monoculture fields to mixed polyculture fields.

rotating crops.

diversify the field habitat

all of the above

In order to institute an integrated pest management program, it is necessary to:

Without the use of pesticides, in-field yield loss to plant disease, insects, birds, and weeds could total:

1/10

1/4

1/3

1/2

Biological control is one alternative to pesticide. Which of the following is not an example of a biological control?

natural predators

habitat diversification

genetic engineering

pathogens/bacteria

Another form of biological control is insect birth control, this includes:

using phermones to bait traps

sterlizing males with radiation then releasing them into the wild

using hormones to disrupt the insects’ life cycle

all of the above

The world’s three highest pesticide consumers are:

U.S., Germany, Italy

Russia, U.S., Canada

India, China, Brazil

U.S., India, Egypt

France, Italy, U.S.

The process that happens when pesticide residues evaporate from soil and water in warm areas and then condense in and precipitate in colder regions is called:

bioaccumulation

pesticide rain

the grasshopper effect

pesticide persistence and mobility

Many pesticides are illegal to use in North America. Which of the following is probably not a good explanation for how these illegal pesticides still show up in tissues of people in the U.S.?

the pesticides are being produced in the U.S.

the pesticides can accumulate in air currents and return in rain

the pesticides return on or in foreign-grown produce

Which of the following is a form of chemical deterioration of soil?

salinization

waterlogging

compaction

wind erosion

water erosion

Which of the following causes the greatest amount of soil degradation on a global basis?

chemical deterioration

wind erosion

physical deterioration

water erosion

Worldwide, the greatest area of cropland soil is begin lost to:

erosion

conversion to non-agricultural uses

desertification

Approximately how much of all fresh water is used for irrigation?

1/10

9/10

3/4

1/2

Waterlogged soils usually result from:

Toxic metal accumulation

Excessive irrigation

Excessive plowing

Natural water erosion processes

Green manure is:

Fresh animal waste that is certified organic

Green plants, especially legumes that are planted and then plowed under

Green plants, especially grasses that are raised for animal fodder

Commercial fertilizer that is certified organic

High responder crops of the green revolution produce tremendous yields:

Even in severe drought conditions

With primitive farming techniques and no chemical use

In response to fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation

In all conditions where standard crops fail

Legumes are plants whose roots contain bacteria that can fix nitrogen and naturally fertilize plants. Which of the following are legumes?

Beans and alfalfa

Potatoes and beets

Carrots and onions

Grasses and root crops

Which of the following does not occur as a result of using reduced tillage farming?

Water is conserved

Soil is preserved

Incidence of insects and weeds is decreased

Contour plowing and strip farming are methods designed to:

Prevent weed spreading

Improve plowing efficiency

Improve harvesting efficiency

Prevent water and soil loss

Another word for cover crop is:

mulch

strip farming

green manure

shade planting

Which of the following land management techniques is best used on steeply sloping croplands?

Contour plowing

Strip farming

terracing

Which of the following reduced tillage systems creates ridges into which the seed is planted while leaving crop residue in the furrow?

Strip farming

terracing

contour plowing

Which of the following is the best way to ensure soil health?

Maintain clean, open ground between rows

Strip farming and leaving residues on fields after harvest

Clearing fields immediately after harvesting

Establishing ridges running up and down hills

In order to work well, all reduced tillage systems typically require:

An adequate supply of water

A ample amount of fertilizer

The use of new hybrids

The use of pesticides

Which of the following is a form of physical deterioration of soil?

salinization

wind erosion

nutrient depletion

compaction

water erosion

When soils are overused, nutrient depletion often occurs. This is an example of:

Physical deterioration

Chemical deterioration

Wind erosion

Water erosion

Water has a difficult time infiltrating into the soil when this form of degradation occurs:

compaction

nutrient depletion

salinization

One of the drawbacks of leaving crop residues on a field after harvest is increased:

Cost due to high cost of fertilizers

Pest and disease problems

Salinization

Wind erosion

The efficiency of irrigation water is ____ in most countries. One of the primary reasons for this is:

high…the abundance of water
B. high…the careful use of water because it is so expensive
C. high…the technology to distribute the water where it is needed most is available
D. low…the lack of availability of technology to distribute the water where it is needed most.
E. low…evaporative losses from unprotected water channeling

Which of the following is not likely to result from land degradation?

lowered biodiversity

decreased yield

increased infiltration of water into the soil

lowered carrying capacity on rangeland

Overfertilization is a very real problem that often results in:

leaching/runoff of nitrates/phosphates

tremendous yields that, in turn, negatives affects the supply side of global markets

toxic concentrations of nutrients stored in the grain itself
Genetic engineering moves selected genes from one organism to another. In agriculture, geneticists have been working on ways in which to genetically alter crops.

Which of the following is or would be an example of a natural cause of extinction?

Freshwater Great Lakes mussels that compete with the Zebra Mussel.

Genetic assimilation as in the case of the hybridization of gray wolves and coyotes.

The passenger pigeon that went extinct at the beginning of the 20th century.

An insect species in the tropical forest that cannot escape predation by a native bird species in the forest.

all of the above

The main reason for the current high rate of animal extinctions is:

uncontrolled sport hunting in the developed world.

commercial harvesting of wildlife in Africa.

habitat destruction worldwide.

None of these by themselves cause high rates of animal extinctions, but together they combine to cause high rates.

Which of the following statements about trade in endangered species is false?

The principal importers of endangered species are developed countries.

Overharvesting affects animals more than plants.

People who say they are animal lovers are the main contributors to the trade.

The principal exporters of endangered species are developing countries.

None of these statements is false.

Introduced species tend to the balance of ecosystems and biodiversity.

increase, decrease

increase, enhance

maintain, enhance

upset, decrease

upset, increase

Which of the following would be characteristic of an introduced plant species?

Produces a few seeds after many years to reach maturity.

Is a specialist, for example, has a low range of tolerance for soil acidity.

Is an opportunist that is desired by humans for food or ornamental value.

Has many predators and diseases.

Genetic assimilation occurs when a rare species:

disappears through crossbreeding with a related species.

is strengthened through crossbreeding.

mutates to adapt to environmental conditions.

is subject to selection pressures and undergoes a change in genetic material.

The main reason that there are relatively few invertebrates categorized as endangered species is because:

we consider other groups, such as mammals, to be more interesting and desirable.

worldwide there are relatively few invertebrates when compared to plants.

it is extremely difficult to identify and count invertebrates.

since there are 532 invertebrates considered endangered, none of the above is true.

invertebrates are more numerous and the relative percentages are similar.

Canada has fewer listed endangered species than the U.S. because:

much of Canada lies in the far north, where diversity is low.

Canadians are more careful with wildlife.

there are fewer people in Canada compared to the U.S.

Canada does not have a way to identify endangered species.

As of 1999, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed how many species as endangered?

135

267

331

532

1500

Although invertebrates make up 75% of all known species, they only make up of endangered species.

9%

19%

29%

39%

49%

In general, funding for recovery programs is given to species that are:

in the most danger.

the most important.

most well known.

keystone species.

The objective of a species recovery plan is to:

interbreed threatened species with common species.

increase an endangered species population until it is no longer endangered.

invest corporate capital in species maintenance.

study the species for a better understanding of its role in the biological community.

protect the species to aid other organisms and resources in the ecosystem.

The following 8 statements relate to the Theory of Demographic Transition. Next to each statement place an “A” if the statement is characteristic of the Pre-Industrial Stage of Development, “B” if the statement is characteristic of the Transitional Stage of Development, “C” if the statement is characteristic of the Industrial Stage of Development, and “D” if the if the statement is characteristic of the Post-Industrial Stage of Development.

_____ Population grows rapidly during this stage.

_____ Economic and social gains reduce the need/desire for many children.

_____ The standard of living begins to improve.

_____ Birth rates are high to compensate for high infant mortality.

_____ Total population is low and population growth is slow.

_____ Birth rates fall below zero population growth rates.

_____ Birth rates decrease and begin to approach death rates.

_____ Population slowly decreases.

Which of the following statements is false?

During the second half of the 20th century, the world’s food supply could not keep up with human population growth.

If equitably distributed, each person alive today could potentially consume more calories than in 1950.

The world population has more than doubled from 1950 to 2000.

Which of the following regions has had the greatest success in increasing food production since approximately 1961?

Sub-Sahara Africa

Russia

Latin America

Asia

Which of the following areas is projected to face the gravest food shortages as we approach the year 2010?

Sub-Sahara Africa

South Asia

East/Southeast Asia

Oceania

Although they may not be the most nutritious crops, which of the following crops are cultivated due to their resistance to drought?

barley and rye

cassava and sweet potato

sorghum and millet

wheat and rye

What is the basis of the statement “We could feed more people if we eat grain rather than feeding it to livestock”?

first law of thermodynamics

second law of thermodynamics

biocentrism

anthrocentrism

The most efficient protein source available to humans, in terms of converting feed grain to protein, is:

Fish

Poultry

Pork

Beef

Which of the following regions consumes an inequitable percentage of meat and milk?

India

Sudan

Indonesia

Japan

In developed countries, improved agricultural yields can be attributed to all of the following except:

more intense cropping techniques (planting two crops each year)

pesticide use

increased irrigation

better crop varieties and hybrids

increased use of fertilizers

In developing countries, greater agricultural yields can be attributed to all of the following except:

more intense cropping techniques (planting two crops each year)

reduced soil erosion techniques

new and better crop varieties and hybrids

The world as a hole is reaching the limit of land that could be converted into agriculturally productive land. Potentially, which of the following areas has the highest percentage of land that could put into agricultural production.

East Asia

Latin America

Africa

There are many reasons behind the starvation that is occurring in Sub-Sahara Africa.
From the perspective of Sub-Sahara Africa, the least of these problems is:

drought/climate

overpopulation

war

poverty

government mismanagement

Per capita cropland is becoming an important issue because we need to feed a growing population. Which of the following regions faces the greatest challenge in terms of having the lowest cropland per capita?

Africa

Asia

Latin America

Oceania

The world human population reached 1 billion around:

1400

1500

1600

1700

1800

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in July 1999 the world’s population passed:

6 million

78 million

6 billion

78 billion

Historically, up until the middle ages, populations were mostly limited by:

low fertility rates

culturally-imposed family planning practices

disease, famine, and war

religious restrictions on marriage

infanticide

Ninety percent of the world’s population growth in the 21st century is expected to occur in:

developing countries

China

India

Developed countries

Russia’s population is declining because:

there is a one-child policy similar to the one in China and Thailand

there has been a massive education campaign to reduce births

the standard of living has decreased leading to lower infant mortality and lower birth rates

Russia’s population is not declining

the standard of living has decreased leading to higher death rates and lower birth rates

The zero population growth rate is slightly over two children per couple because:

we always need slightly more young people

the older generation is dying

some children die and some couples do not have children

that is as low as birth rates can reasonably be expected to get

Women who _________ are least likely to have many children.

cannot afford children

live where many children die young

are subordinate to their husbands

are able to earn an income for themselves

all of the above

There is some evidence that population growth today is ________ rather than _______.

slowing slightly…continuing to accelerate

continuing to accelerate…slowing slightly

increasing…leveling off

leveling off…decreasing
Use the following age structure diagrams to answer the next 3 questions.

The population represented by the age structure diagram on the right will:

have a large population of old people soon

not grow much in the coming years

soon begin to decline

grow substantially in the future

grow slowly in the future

The age structure diagram on the right would most accurately represent the population of:

the U.S.

Kenya

Japan

Sweden

The age structure diagram on the left represents a population whose birth rates:

have not changed for many years

have recently decreased

are gradually increasing

are sharply increasing

Which of the following is characteristic of a country with a fast growing population:

is often involved in political or economic crises

often has hyperinflation

has a well-organized means of sanitation

has a high crime rate

For the following 5 questions, answer A if the statement would be attributed to an ecologist, B if the statement would be attributed to an economist, and C if the statement would be attributed to a sociologist.

___ The key to reducing human population lies in improving the living standards of the world’s poor.

___ Expanding human population will no doubt lead to resource depletion and environmental degradation.

___ Current global shortages are a result of greed, waste, and oppression.

___ The key to reducing human population lies in immediate, worldwide birth control.

___ More people are beneficial…people are the ultimate resource.
Use the following graph to answer the next 3 questions.

According to the graph, which region had the highest total fertility rate in 1998:

Africa

The Americas

Eastern Mediterranean

Europe

Southeast Asia

According to the graph, which region had the highest total fertility rate in 1950:

Africa

The Americas

Eastern Mediterranean

Europe

Southeast Asia

According to the graph, which region has the greatest fertility reduction:

Africa

The Americas

Eastern Mediterranean

Europe

Southeast Asia

A dependency ratio is a comparison between the numbers of:

working and non-working people

old people and young people

parents and children
In class we discussed 9 possible explanations why some choose to have many children.
Please list below four of those nine possible explanations.

Which of the curves represents a species that tend to die more-or-less randomly at any age?

a B. b C. c D. d E. e

Which of the curves represents a species that live out a full life span if they survive early life?

a B. b C. c D. d E. e

Which of the following statements best describes the species represented by curve “d”?

Reproductive adult species have the highest rate of survival for this species.
B. The rate of mortality is relatively constant throughout its life span.
C. It is highly susceptible to mortality early in life.
D. Once the individual reaches old age its survivorship decreases dramatically.
E. It is highly susceptible to mortality early in life and late in life.

Which of the following statements best describes the species represented by curve “c”?

Reproductive adult species have the highest rate of survival for this species.
B. The rate of mortality is relatively constant throughout its life span.
C. It is highly susceptible to mortality early in life.
D. Once the individual reaches old age its survivorship decreases dramatically.
E. It is highly susceptible to mortality early in life and late in life.

You are studying an organism that is a pioneer species, is an opportunist, and does not care for its offspring. This organism probably has a population growth strategy.

logistic
B. Malthusian
C. chaotic
D. catastrophic

You are studying an organism that is a fairly large, lives fairly long, and cares for its offspring. This organism probably has a population growth strategy.

logistic
B. Malthusian
C. chaotic
D. catastrophic

The world growth rate is about 1.4 percent. Therefore, the population is currently doubling about every years.

5 B. 10 C. 15 D. 50 E. 100

Human population growth most closely resembles which of the following curves.

The population theory held by Thomas Malthus was that the human population would:

never reach its environment’s carrying capacity
B. reach its environment’s carrying capacity and then maintain equilibrium
C. outstrip its resources, then suffer starvation and misery
D. develop a modern utopia

Reflects the limits imposed on population growth by a finite resource base.

The pattern described by a population explosion followed by a population crash.
f

The pattern described by a population coming into equilibrium with its resources.

strip farming
J) demography
S) famine
B. arithmetic growth
K) terracing
T) green revolution
C. demographic transition
L) replacement level fertility
U) total fertility rate
D. contour plowing
M) no till
V) dependency ratio
E. environmental resistance
N) age structure diagram
W) sustainable agriculture
F) biotic potential
O) carrying capacity
X) logistic growth
G) food security
P) genetic engineering
Y) pronatalist pressure
H) Malthusian growth
Q) exponential growth
Z) cover crops
I) minimum tillage
R) population momentum
Match the terms above with the best answer below. The terms may be used more than once or not at all.
51) Factors that limit growth and produce population equilibrium.
52) A planting method that drills seeds directly into the soil.
53) The maximum reproductive rate of an organism.
54) Shaping the land to create level shelves of earth to hold water and soil.
55) Represents the potential for rapid population growth because of a large percentage of people in their pre-reproductive years.
56) 2.1 children per couple.
57) Growth at a constant amount per unit time.
58) Often leads to people eating their seed grain and slaughtering their breeding stock, thus “mortgaging” their future to survive the present.
59) Vital statistics about people (for example, population, ethnic background, birth and death rates).
60) The number of children born to the average woman during her lifetime.
61) The population that a species’ environment can support on a long-term basis.
62) The pattern described by a population explosion followed by a population crash.
63) Using molecular techniques to move genes from one organism to another.
64) This is becoming a growing problem in Sweden.
65) This describes the typical pattern of falling death rates and birth rates that usually accompany improved living conditions.
66) If achieved, this will eventually result in zero population growth.
67) Characterized by large-scale food shortages, mass starvation, and economic chaos.
68) A farming method used on gently sloping hills.
69) One of the main reasons that world food supplies have kept up with growing human population over the last few decades.
70) A combination of high inputs of fertilizer, water, and pesticide together with conventional plant breeding that increased crop production 3-4 times over the past 50 years.

strip farming
J) demography
S) famine
B. arithmetic growth
K) terracing
T) green revolution
C. demographic transition
L) replacement level fertility
U) total fertility rate
D. contour plowing
M) no till
V) dependency ratio
E. environmental resistance
N) age structure diagram
W) sustainable agriculture
F) biotic potential
O) carrying capacity
X) logistic growth
G) food security
P) genetic engineering
Y) pronatalist pressure
H) Malthusian growth
Q) exponential growth
Z) cover crops
I) minimum tillage
R) population momentum
71) The ability to obtain sufficient food on a day-to-day basis.
72) Aims to produce food and fiber on a sustainable basis and repair the damage caused by destructive practices.
73) The number of non-working compared to working individuals in a population.
74) A farming method in which different kinds of crops, usually broadleafs plants and grasses, are planted in alternating strips to help prevent erosion.
75) An expensive farming method of making very steep hillsides farmable.
76) Growth at a constant rate per unit time.
77) These are often planted after harvest to hold and protect soil, then are plowed under to provide green manure.
78) The pattern described by a population coming into equilibrium with their resources.
79) A planting method that reduces the number of times soil is disturbed and leaves up to 75% of debris between rows to prevent erosion.
80) A freebie.

What is not true of viruses?

they are nonliving

they reproduce

they cannot be attacked in cells

their only defense is antibiotics

Allergens are chemicals that:

cause cancer

trigger immune response

alter genes

cause birth defects

Which type of radiation does not penetrate skin?

gamma

beta

alpha

X-rays

The highest natural background radiation on earth has been found where?

Iran

Egypt

India

China

The whole-body radiation dose in rem that is fatal to virtually all exposed victims:

200

100

500

1000

How the stars and sun generate energy?

fusion

fission

compression

none of the above

A kiloton is the explosive yield of how many tons of explosives?

1000

10,000

10

1,000,000

When chemicals work against each other they are called:

additive

synergistic

antagonistic

Current US policy is not to use which type of weapon under any circumstance?

Chemical

Biological

Nuclear

Which type of radiation is the most serious external hazard?

alpha radiation

ultraviolet radiation

gamma rays

beta radiation

DNA mutations from ionizing radiation hazards can cause:

cancer

sterility

birth defects

all of the above

Fungal pathogens include all of the following except:

Athletes Foot

Candida

Malaria

Yeast Infections

Which of the following is not true of Beta Radiation?

Given off predominantly by light and medium weight nucclei.

Minor external hazard but a faily serious internal hazard.

Moderately high ionizing ability.

Penetrates skin easily

Global Average of background radiations is:

0.1 Rem per year

3 Rem per year

0.9 Rem per year

26 Rem per year

What is correlation?

the number of ways something can happen

How well two sets of data relate to each other

range of values where some measurement is most likely to fall

How much data deviate from an ideal pattern

For anecdotal evidence to be valid it must be

Compiled by an accredited research group or university

Follow all the rules under the First Law of Conservation of Biology

be true and representive

all of the above

What is an example of a statistical fallacy involving
Clustering?

Nests of baby rattlesnakes having killed small children who played in outdoor play areas

Clusters of alligators living in New York sewers

Groups of gangs using headlight flashing to intiate new members

Bad events such as airplane crashes, natural disasters, and famous deaths
come in threes

The extent that data deviates from an ideal pattern is called what?

Probability

Scatter

Error Bounds

Correlation

The range of values where some a quantity is most likely to fall is known as:

Probability

Scatter

Error Bounds

Correlation

How well two sets of data relate to each other is termed:

Probability

Scatter

Error Bounds

Correlation

The number of ways something can happen divided by the number of ways everything can happen is what?

Probability

Scatter

Error Bounds

Correlation

When you see a correlation between two data sets A and B:

A causes B

B causes A

Both may be related to something else

Any the above are possible

What is evidence based on single noteworthy events or observations?

Empirical data

Accidental evidence

Anecdotal evidence

Standard Deviation

Which is a chemical hazard?

Prions

Viruses

Bacteria

Teratogens

Which is a factor in toxicity?

Chemical composition

Solubility and Mobility

The body's ability to metabolize, sequester, or excrete

All the above

The number of Protons in a nucleus is its:

Atomic weight

Half Life

Atomic number

None of the above

The number of Protons plus Neutrons in a nucleus is its:

Atomic number

Atomic weight

Proton mass

None of the above

Malaria and sleeping sickness are both pathogens in which group?

viruses

protista

bacteria

prions

Which of the following chemical hazards alters genes?

mutations

teratogens

allergens

Protons + Neutrons = _________?

atomic weight

atomic number

oxidation state

Isotopes with _____ Half-Life give off more radiation per unit time.

longer

no

shorter

Natural ______ is how the stars (and the sun) generate energy.

fission

fusion

decay

The _______ is an amount of isotope that gives off a given amount of radiation per unit time

Rem

Rad

Roentgen

curie

Half-life

We describe probability as

Two sets of data that relate to each other

the likelihood of an event happening

the range of values where some measurement is most likely to fall

how much data deviates from an ideal pattern

Which of the following best describes the characteristics of a virus?

A virus is non-living and non-reproducing

A virus is living but non-reproducing

A virus is non living but reproducing

A virus is living and reproducing

Teratogens

cause damage to the nervous system

cause birth defects

trigger immune responses

has no effect

Why taking an antibiotic for a cold is a bad idea:

Antibiotics are useless against viral infections

Excessive use of antibiotics helps create resistant pathogens

Unused antibiotics are dumped into the environment

All the above

The splitting of massive nuclei is refered to as

fusion

fission

radiation

beta decay

Elements with a short half-life of days or less

are an extremely dangerous radiation hazard but decay quickly

are able to migrate far during their lifetime

are a minor high radiation hazard because they decay quickly

are unlikely to cause cancer because they decay quickly

Which one of the following is not a pathogen?

prions

viruses

bacteria

allergen

The effects of radiation in the body include:

Creation of reactive molecules called free radicals

Direct damage to organic molecules

Alteration of DNA

All the above

A standard deviation is

The absolute limits beyond which measurements cannot fall

Another name for average

The range within which a value has about a 2/3 chance of falling

The range within which a value has about a 99% chance of falling

The dose of a chemical or radiation that kills 50% of those exposed to it is called:

The threshold dose

The half life

Toxicity

LD-50

Which is true of clones?

They only occur artificially

Only plants can be cloned

Clones cannot be generated from adult cells

Clones have identical DNA

Cloning has been proposed as a means of preservation of endangered species and restoration of extinct ones. Critics of this idea assert:

Cloning will never work

Cloning is too expensive

Cloning won't preserve enough genetic diversity

We would do better to focus on conservation and habitat preservation

Terminator Genes are:

Genes that kill an organism

Genes that wipe out a species

Genes that render seeds sterile

Genes that self-destruct

The vast majority of oil being produced today is from:

Large fields discovered in the 1990's

Large fields discovered in the 1970's and earlier

Small fields discovered in the 1990's

Small fields discovered in the 1970's and earlier

Two thirds of the world's oil production comes from the _______ largest fields

10-15

50-60

200-300

5,000-8,000

In 1956, M. King Hubbert predicted future U.S. oil production based on oil field statistics. As of 2003, his prediction

Fell far short of actual production

Was almost exactly on target

Was far above actual production

The most likely near-term limit on petroleum production is set by

Running out of it

Our ability to drill wells fast enough

Our ability to produce it fast enough to meet demand

Our ability to build pipelines and tankers

Many organisms were never fossilized because:

They had no hard parts

They were rare and restricted

Their enviroment was unsuitable for fossilization

Any of the above

Our globally rapid population growth is mostly due to

World War I

World War II

Scientific & Industrial Revolutions

Poverty

In the 1990's life expectancy in places like North America, Australia, and Western Europe was approximately

75

65

50

45

Pandas are not suitable for domestication due to

Reclusive breeding

Slow growth

Tendency to panic

Picky diets

Jala, Mexico is best known for

Giant ears of corn

Black sheep

Largest seed bank

Hay terraces

Which endangered species died in the Cincinnati Zoo on September 14, 1914?

Heath Hen

Dodo

Passenger Pigeon

Carolina Parakeet

Which animal is not one of the Big Five most important domesticated animals?

Horse

Sheep

Llama

Ox

The largest number of domesticated animals came from which one of the following regions?

Eurasia

Sub-Saharan Africa

The Americas

Australia

Which one of these is NOT a domesticated carnivore?

dog

badger

cat

ferret

What animals make up "The Big Five" key domestic species?

sheep, goat, cattle, pig, and horse

horse, dog, cattle, mongoose, donkey

camel, donkey, water buffalo, llama, and yak

chicken, hen, passenger pigeon, cattle egret, and carolina parakeet

Which is true of natural reserves?

small reserves are better because they provide more varied habitat

a few large reserves are better than a number of small reserves

reserves should be far apart so species are spread out more

long and linear reserves are better than circular ones

The theory of island biogeography has also been called:

First Law of Genetic Biodiversity

First Law of Conservation Biology

First Law of Natural Selection

First Law of the 6th Extinction

Total fertility rate is the number of children born:

in a population during entire generation

in a population during a single year

to average woman per year

to average woman during her lifetime

Populations were held in check up to the middle ages by:

low fertility rates

cultuarally- imposed family planning practices

disease, famine, war

religious restrictions on marriage

Which is most true of one of the demographic worlds?

Less-developed countries are poor, young, and rapidly growing

Less-developed countries are wealthy, old and mostly shrinking

More-developed countries are mostly in Africa and Asia

More-developed countries are poor, young, and rapidly growing

This animal was the original "penguin"?

Yak

Steller's Sea Cow

Greak Auk

no correct answer

Characteristic(s) of C4 grasses are

Prefer cool climate

Prefer warm climate

Are rich in silica particles

Both b and c

This group believes that we are approaching the earth's carrying capacity:

Pronatalists

Neo-Malthusians

Neo-Marxists

no correct answer

When do most demographers expect earth's population to stabilize?

100 years

10 years

1,000 years

it never will

What is the average fertility rate of a women in the US?

4

2

6 or 7

Less than 1

Which is a factor that increases the desire to have children?

Children are a source of pleasure, pride and comfort

Children are a source of support for elderly parents

Children give families more social status

All of the above

How many large seed grass species are there?

Over 100

About 50

About 20

About 10

How many of the large seed grass species are found in the Eurasian Mediterranean?

Almost all

Over half

About 1/4

Only a few

Which one is a fiber crop?

Flax

Pea

Chickpea

Barley

Which is most likely to make animals unsuitable for domestication?

Fast growth rate

Picky Diet

Low trophic level

Not Territorial

This can be called the first high-tech extinction because railroads and the telegraph played a key role in over-exploitation of the species:

Passenger Pigeon

Heath Hen

Dodo

Great Auk

What is NOT an example of pronatalist pressure?

When women have more opportunities to earn a salary, they are less likely to have children.

Children are a source of pleasure, pride, and comfort

Having children increases social status

Children can assist with farm labor and elder care

All of the above

The population growth rate is higher in _____?

more developed countries

less developed countries

the most developed countries

none, population growth varies little between countries

What is the primary cause of most population growth in the last 300 years?

Immigration

Change in climate

Declining mortality rates

Government policies

At what level do most demographers expect the world population will stabilize?

6-8 billion people

8-13 billion people

13-16 billion people

None of the above

________ has the largest variety of large seed grasses.

The Eurasian Mediterranean

North America

South America

Australia

Sub-Saharan Africa

Animals that have low levels of thyroxine tend to be all of these except:

difficult to domesticate

easy to domesticate

large litter producing animals

retain juvenile forms into adulthood

have spotted or solid color coats

Some animals self-domesticate because _______.

These animals seek human contact

These animals see humans as members of their group

Areas near human settlements are usually free from predators

None of the above

Megafauna _______ when humans arrived

were domesticated

coexisted with humans

often disappeared

had a new lunch option

none of the above

Extinctions are caused mainly by ______.

Epidemics

Evolution of new competitors

Habitat disruption or modification

None of these
Non-Student Questions

The world human population reached 1 billion around:

AD 1

1500

1700

1800

1900

Zero population growth rate is slightly over two children per couple because:

we always need slightly more young people

the older generation is dying

some children die and some couples do not have children

that is as low as birth rates can reasonably be expected to get

Women who _________ are least likely to have many children.

cannot afford children

live where many children die young

are subordinate to their husbands

are able to earn an income for themselves

all of the above

The number of different kinds of organisms within an individual community or ecosystem is known as:

genetic diversity

ecological diversity

species diversity

The total number of living species is estimated to be:

between 500,000 and 1 million

between 3 million and 50 million

between 30 million and 100 million

over 100 million

Approximately how many species have been identified on Earth?

about 100,000

about 500,000

about 1.5 million

about 3 million

about 30 million

Habitat fragmentation usually leads to a(n):

decrease in biodiversity

reduction in the number of introduced species.

increase in biodiversity due to the isolated populations.

more stable environment.

Mediterranean climates were critical for the origin of agriculture because they:

Favor plants with large fruit

Favor great varieties of plants

Make plants more dependent on humans

Favor plants with seeds that can survive long dry spells

Demographic Transition refers to:

Change from monarchy to democracy

Change from central planning to capitalism

Change from religious to secular value systems

Change from rapid to slow population growth

The principal reasons North America and Africa did not develop a large variety of domesticated animals:

Eurasians are smarter

North American and African cultural values interfered with domestication

There were serious biological reasons why indigenous animals could not be domesticated

Eurasians were better informed about their environment

A geographic reason that favored animal and plant domestication in Eurasia was:

A north-south orientation that craeted a wide variety of ecological zones

An east-west orientation that created a broad band of similar climate

Its large area provided greater protection from natural disasters

Absence of dry climate areas

The Law of Island Biodiversity states that:

Islands have less biodiversity than similar size mainland areas

Islands have more biodiversity than similar size mainland areas

Islands all have about the same biodiversity

Island organisms are better adapted than mainland organisms

One of the reasons for the Law of Island Biodiversity is:

Islands have lower rates of species immigration

Islands have higher rates of species immigration

Islands have more rapid rates of evolution

Islands have less rapid rates of evolution

Another of the reasons for the Law of Island Biodiversity is:

Islands have lower rates of extinction because they are isolated

Islands have higher rates of extinction because species are more geographically restricted

Islands have lower rates of extinction because there is less competition

Islands have higher rates of extinction because species are more densely packed

The principal reason many people are concerned about the proliferation of specialized and mass-produced crops is:

Seeds are too expensive for poor farmers

They give big business a monopoly on food production

These crops are less nutritious than other crops

We are in danger of losing genetic diversity in our crops

Remoras are small fish that attach themselves to large fish like sharks. They eat scraps missed by the shark but neither benefit nor harm the shark. This is an example of:

Predation

Commensalism

Parasitism

Symbiosis

Termites can digest wood only because they have microorganisms in their stomachs that break the wood down. This is an example of:

Predation

Commensalism

Parasitism

Symbiosis

Catbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, and the young catbirds are raised by the nest builders and push the other young birds out of the nest. This is an example of:

Predation

Commensalism

Parasitism

Symbiosis

Chewing lice (like Strigiphilus garylarsoni) live on birds and eat dead skin and feathers. They neither help nor harm the bird. This is an example of:

Predation

Commensalism

Parasitism

Symbiosis

The Tasmanian Devil of Australia (not the cartoon kinD. is very similar to a North American wolverine in appearance, temperament and lifestyle. This is an example of:

Divergent evolution

Convergent evolution

Batesian mimicry

Mullerian mimicry

The highly venomous coral snake and the harmless king snake are both brightly colored in red, yellow, and black. This is an example of:

Divergent evolution

Convergent evolution

Batesian mimicry

Mullerian mimicry

Three otherwise unrelated species of highly venomous snake all have the same conspicuous color scheme. This is an example of:

Divergent evolution

Convergent evolution

Batesian mimicry

Mullerian mimicry

After the dinosaurs became extinct, mammals and birds rapidly gave rise to a large number of new forms. This is an example of:

Divergent evolution

Convergent evolution

Batesian mimicry

Mullerian mimicry
Thanks to your stellar performance in this course, you have been hired by MegaBlaster Studios as a science consultant to review scripts. How would you rate the script ideas in the next four questions?

Aliens are kidnapping humans and taking them back to their home planet to raise for food.

There is insufficient biomass to sustain the organism

Carnivores don't eat that much and that rapidly

Humans are at too high a trophic level to be a good primary source of food.

The script does not violate any major principles of ecology

An escaped animal on a cruise ship kills and eats many of the passengers over a span of several days.

There is insufficient biomass to sustain the organism

Carnivores don't eat that much and that rapidly

Humans are at too high a trophic level to be a good primary source of food.

Humans are at too high a trophic level to be a good primary source of food.

The script does not violate any major principles of ecology

A research station on the Antarctic ice cap encounters a huge predator that lives in the ice.

There is insufficient biomass to sustain the organism

Carnivores don't eat that much and that rapidly

Humans are at too high a trophic level to be a good primary source of food.

The script does not violate any major principles of ecology

A Critical Environmental Factor is:

The most abundant food source

The most significant predator

The highest temperature an organism can stand

The factor in shortest supply

Which can be described as a theory?

Ptolemy's idea that the planets went around the earth on circles attached to other circles

The idea that global warming might be beneficial by creating longer growing seasons

The idea that all mater is made up of atoms

All the above

Most of our animal domestication was the result of:

Deliberate selection of desirable traits by humans

Unsystematic selection for desirable traits by humans

Unconscious and unintentional selection by humans

Natural selection with no human intervention at all

Creating desirable strains of roses is mostly a matter of:

Deliberate selection of desirable traits by humans

Unsystematic selection for desirable traits by humans

Unconscious and unintentional selection by humans

Natural selection with no human intervention at all

Quantities that grow exponentially grow according to

The First Law of Thermodynamics

The Second Law of Thermodynamics

The Rule of 70

A fixed quantity per year

Logistic growth is also described as

S curve

J curve

Cyclic curve

Arithmetic

The Rule of 70 says:

Populations double in 70 years

Populations grow 70 per cent per year

Populations double in 70 years times annual percent growth rate

Populations double in 70 years divided by annual percent growth rate

Using The Rule of 70, if you have 1000 dollars in the bank at 5% interest, it will double in:

70 years

5 years

14 years

1.4 years

The principal definition of a species is a group of organisms that

Look alike

Live in the same area

Occupy a continuous stretch of territory

Can interbreed among themselves

Exaptation is:

Utilization of existing organs for new functions

Adaptation of organisms to new environments

Loss of little-used organs

Growth of completely new organs

On a high mountain in the Rockies you find a group of flowers that are identical in form and genetics to flowers now found in the Arctic. You'd best describe this isolated group as a:

Species

Population

Race

Genus

Why do cave organisms commonly lose their sight?

Eyes are too vulnerable to injury in the dark

Sight is a very energy-demanding function

Their eyes evolve to serve other functions

Eyes are too vulnerable to disease in those settings

On an island you find birds that are noticeably different in color from similar birds on the mainland, but their habits are identical and they crossbreed easily with the mainland birds. You'd best describe this group as a:

Species

Class

Race

Genus

Any given trophic level needs about ________ as much energy as the level below

Half

Twice

Ten percent

Ten times

The principal reason for the above answer is:

Most of the energy in food goes into sustaining the organism, not building tissue

There are more organisms at higher trophic levels

There are fewer organisms at higher trophic levels

Higher trophic levels include all the biomass from the levels below them.

A pesticide gets into the land and water of an area and is taken up by all organisms in the food chain. Measurements show that contaminated fish are hazardous to eat but cattle that eat the grass are much less so. Why might this happen?

Fish are much more sensitive to contaminants

Fish are at a higher trophic level and accumulate much more of the pesticide

Cows have immune systems that break down contaminants

Pesticides wash off the grass and into the water

The proposal to relieve world hunger by getting food from the sea will not work because:

The seas are not big enough

Fish are at a high trophic level and require a lot of biomass to grow

Productivity in the open oceans is very low

Both b. and c.

Primary productivity is the rate of converting:

Sunlight into chemical energy

Biomass into food

Biomass into the next higher trophic level

Nutrients into energy

Primary productivity is highest in:

Tropical Forests

Temperate forests

Grasslands

Tundra

Primary productivity is highest in:

Open Oceans

Coastal waters

Lakes

Reefs and Estuaries

Going from equator to pole, which decreases?

Species diversity

Abundance within species

Going from equator to pole, which increases?

Species diversity

Abundance within species

If two species are in the same place and need the same resource, which is the least likely outcome?

One will migrate away

One will become extinct in that area

They will share the resource evenly

They will partition the resource so that each uses slightly different parts of it

When generalist species and specialist species meet, who usually wins?

Generalists

Specialists

Why?

Specialists are more attuned to their setting and thus better adapted

Specialists have highly developed traits that generalists lack

Specialists cannot cope with changed conditions as well as generalists

Specialists lack the genetic diversity of generalists

The role a species plays in a biological community is its:

Habitat

Adaptation

Species Diversity

Ecological Niche

When individual organisms adapt, they change so they can cope with a changed environment and:

The changes are passed on to their offspring

The changes are not passed on to their offspring

The change is due to a mutation

The change can be as great as necessary to survive

When populations adapt, they change so they can cope with a changed environment and:

The changes are passed on to their offspring

The changes result from selection of pre-existing genetic diversity

The change can eventually lead to speciation

All of these

Which is true of mutations?

They are changes in an organism's DNA code

The chance of a random beneficial change is small

Radical changes are usually harmful

All of these

In the Five Kingdom System now used in many biology texts, which is not a kingdom?

Animals

Plants

Vertebrates

Protista (one-celled organisms)

Fungi

In classifying a cat, which of the following lists its classification groups in correct order from highest to lowest?

Carnivora, Chordata, Mammalia

Mammalia, Carnivora, Chordata

Carnivora, Mammalia, Chordata

Chordata, Mammalia, Carnivora

Malthusian growth consists of:

Population explosions followed by population crashes.

Growth toward a steady limit

Continually accelerating growth

Growth at a steady rate

Logistic growth consists of:

Population explosions followed by population crashes.

Growth toward a steady limit

Continually accelerating growth

Growth at a steady rate

The tendency of some growth to flatten out with time is due to a factor called:

Exponential decay

Environmental resistance

Predation

Malthusian strategy

Saying an event is "random" is least likely to mean what?

The process is too complex to predict accurately

We have insufficient data to make a prediction

The event has no meaning or purpose

We can't predict the event any more accurately than statistical chance

The Second Law of Thermodynamics implies

Order cannot arise naturally

Entropy can decrease locally if there is an offsetting increase elsewhere

Entropy is the same thing as disorder

Systems beome more orderly with time

The total length of DNA in a human being is comparable in size to:

A few centimeters

Your height

Width of the United States

The Solar System

The galaxy

Our cells have structures called mitochondria that are believed by many scientists to have once been independent organisms. One line of evidence for this idea is:

Mitochondria can move

Mitochondria can survive on their own

Mitochondria have their own DNA

Mitochondria contain chlorophyll

Convection is:

a means of transporting heat by moving hot and cold material

a force that causes storms to travel curving paths

the force that drives ocean currents

related to earth's rotation

the process that creates the ozone layer

What drives convection?:

sunlight

earth's rotation

buoyancy

pressure deep in the earth

nuclear reactions

Earth's atmospheric circulation is driven mostly by:

waves in the ocean

evaporation of water from the oceans

unequal heating by the sun

the earth's magnetic field

The principal reservoir for storing heat on the earth is the.

lithosphere

biosphere

stratosphere

hydrosphere

What is one of the roles of water in the earth's interior?

lowers the melting point of rocks

raises the melting point of rocks

makes rocks stronger

carries material outward from the core

How can rain forests be so lush if the soil is so poor?

They get nutrients from rain water

The organisms have evolved to do without soil nutrients

Human slash-and-burn agriculture returns nutrients to the soil

The ecosystem is very effective at recycling nutrients

Which factors enter into soil classification?

age of the soil

parent material

climate and drainage

all the above

Why small particles weather faster than large ones:

They have more surface area for chemical reactions

They can be more easily eaten by soil organisms

They are easier to break mechanically

They are made of more soluble minerals

To prevent long-term pollution of ground water, it is most important to protect:

The recharge zone

The area around the well

Streams and lakes

Springs and seeps

Most of the earth's liquid fresh water is:

Lakes and rivers

ground water

Ocean water

Glacial ice

The energy that drives surface ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream comes from:

Salinity variations

Density differences

Coriolis force

Wave activity

Prevailing winds

When do we first see evidence for liquid water on earth?

A billion years ago

500 million years ago

Two billion years ago

As far back as we can see

The carbonate-silicate cycle has probably helped moderate earth’s temperatures. Which of the following is essential for the cycle to operate?

Liquid water

Life

Abundant calcium-bearing rocks

Abundant carbon dioxide

According to most models of stellar evolution, when the earth formed, the sun was:

Twice as bright

The same brightness

One tenth as bright

About 30 percent less bright

Most of the United States is situated in which zone of prevailing winds?

trade winds

doldrums

subpolar easterlies

horse latitudes

westerlies

The triatomic form of oxygen (O3) is known as:

argon

ozone

thermopause

molecular oxygen

chlorofluorocarbon

There is disagreement about every aspect of global warming except one. Which is the one point everyone agrees?

Accuracy of the computer models

Whether the change is man-made or natural

Carbon dioxide has increased in the last few centuries

The role of clouds in moderating global warming

Whether the change will be harmful or beneficial

Which one of the following is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?

oxygen

nitrogen

argon

hydrogen

carbon dioxide

When solar radiation passes through the Earth’s atmosphere, the ozone in the atmosphere effectively absorbs this portion of the solar radiation.

Ultraviolet radiation

Visible radiation

Infrared radiation

This greenhouse gas is produced through the decay of organic matter.

water vapor

sulfur dioxide

methane

chloroflourocarbons

nitrous oxides

This gas contributes to depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.

water vapor

carbon dioxide

methane

chloroflourocarbons

nitrous oxides

This is the greenhouse gas that humans have the least control over because it is so naturally abundant.

water vapor

carbon dioxide

methane

chloroflourocarbons

nitrous oxides

This greenhouse has is primarily the result of the burning of fossil fuels.

carbon dioxide

nitrous oxides

methane

cholorflourocarbons

Many people are surprised by this, but the strongest greenhouse gas is:

carbon dioxide

water vapor

chlorofluorocarbons

methane

nitrous oxides

Legumes are plants whose roots contain bacteria that can fix nitrogen and naturally fertilize plants. Which of the following are legumes?

Beans and alfalfa

Potatoes and beets

Most trees

Grasses and root crops

Contour plowing and strip farming are methods designed to:

Prevent weed spreading

Improve plowing efficiency

Improve harvesting efficiency

Prevent water and soil loss

Sulfur in the environment is a major contributor to what problem? (pick the best answer)

Habitat destruction

Global warming

Ground water depletion

Acid rain

Soil erosion

The charge on an atom that has gained or lost electrons is called its:

Atomic number

Atomic weight

Oxidation state

Quantum spin number

Electronegativity

Which is a carbon sink?

Combustion of Fossil Fuels

Biomass

Animal respiration

Weathering of carbonate rocks

What can cause nitrogen and oxygen to combine?

Extreme temperatures

Photosynthesis

Ultraviolet light

Presence of water

Why is nitrogen needed as a fertilizer if it makes up 79% of the atmosphere?

There is such intense competition for it

Plants can't use it in its gaseous form

Plants need more than the atmosphere can supply

Plants have no way to take in nitrogen from the air

Which element is most likely to be a limiting factor in biological production?

Carbon

Nitrogen

Hydrogen

Sulfur

Phosphorus

Which element's cycle has no atmospheric component?

Carbon

Nitrogen

Hydrogen

Sulfur

Phosphorus

Regarding the Ogallala (High Plains) Aquifer:

its water is replaced on an annual basis through precipitation.

its water originally came from ocean water seepage.

it is a nonrenewable resource.

The water table is falling

When we say dry regions “mine” water, we mean:

They must drill wells to reach a water source.

They must locate underground water because there is no surface water available.

They extract water faster than it is replenished.

The water is rich in dissolved minerals.

When plants create organic molecules, the element most likely to be left over as a waste product is:

hydrogen

sulfur

carbon

phosphorus

oxygen

The biggest single cause of infant mortality worldwide is

diarrhea from contaminated water

war

insect-borne diseases

skin infections

Women in developing countries spend up to ________ getting water

one day a year

12 hours a day

one week a year

1/3 of their time

Most ground water is derived from

permeable rocks called aquifers

hard rocks like granite

underground streams and rivers

water-deposited rocks like shale

Underground Streams are

rare, short, and small

the source of 10% of the earth's water

the source of half the earth's water

the source of most of the earth's water

Artesian aquifers are:

pure

uncontaminated

free of minerals

pressurized

all of the above

In the Green Bay area, the water table ________ after a pipeline from Lake Michigan was built

rose

dropped

was completely replenished

was unaffected

In recent years the water table in the Green Bay area has fallen due to

dry summers and lack of recharge

diversion of water into other aquifer layers

dams on the Wolf River

increased water use by suburbs

The ground water east of the Niagara Escarpment is separated from deeper aquifers by impervious rocks. This is an example of a ____________ aquifer

artesian

perched

elevated

impermeable

permeable

Open-channel aquifers (caverns, open fractures, etc.) are very fragile because

they contain many rare cave organisms

the rock formations are weakened by the fractures

acid rain can dissolve the rocks quickly

contaminants can move quickly over long distances

Why do we think carbon is special as a basis for life?

it is so abundant

its atoms can bond in so many different ways

its chemicals are so soluble in water

carbon bonds are unusually stable

Many elements can assume more than one oxidation state. This fact enables them to be used to do all the following except:

trigger chemical reactions

convert one element into another

store energy

store information

Some people seriously argue global warming may not be all bad. In support, they point to:

reduced energy demands

longer growing seasons

more biomass

more habitable land

all of the above

Someone argues that man-made chemicals can't be the cause of depletion of the ozone layer because hydrogen chloride from volcanoes is far more abundant. You respond with:

a blank stare

admitting he's right

he's wrong; man-made chemicals are more abundant

the chlorine in man-made chemicals is bonded more weakly than in hydrogen chloride so it reacts more easily with ozone